Astros report: Wallace aims to stick

First baseman-designated hitter Brett Wallace, who was shipped back to Class AAA Oklahoma City after starting the season 1-for-24 in the team’s first seven games, was thrown back into the starting lineup Tuesday in his first day back in the majors.

“I think it’s extremely important,” manager Bo Porter said of Wallace’s opportunity. “Whenever you take a step back — and from an organizational standpoint he started the season as one of our starters and didn’t fare too well — and now you come back with an opportunity the second go-around, you want to make sure you seize the opportunity and move forward.”

Wallace hit .326 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 37 RBIs with OKC to earn another shot with the major league club.

“I got a chance to talk to Bo, and he said there’d be opportunities for sure to get at-bats, and I told him I was ready to do whatever it took,” said Wallace, who went 1-for-4 in his first game back, driving in a pair of runs with a sixth-inning triple. “When that first lineup went up and I went to look at it, I was pretty excited to be up there. I’m just trying to do anything I can to get some wins.”

Wallace, the opening-day first baseman who hit .042 and was demoted on April 18, was in the starting lineup at designated hitter for the opener of the two-game set against the Cardinals.

“It’s good to get Brett back,” Porter said. “He went to Triple-A and did everything we asked him to do. He swung the bat well down there, played first base, played third base. He was on the opening-day roster, was one of our starters, had a setback. But at the same time, he’s earned the right to get back here and get an opportunity.”

Elmore gets call, fills several roles

One day after shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was demoted to Class AAA Oklahoma City, infielder Jake Elmore was called up to serve as somewhat of a utility infielder.

“As far as my role, they said I’ll be playing some short, second if Jose (Altuve) needs a break, and just kind of playing utility,” he said. “I’ve been playing some outfield down in OKC, so (manager Bo Porter) told me to be ready (to play) possibly in a corner outfield spot, possibly third. Just being able to move around the diamond increases my value.”

Elmore, 26, is making his third appearance in the majors and second this year with the Astros. He was called up last year by the Diamondbacks.

He hit .300 (80-for-267) with 30 RBIs at Oklahoma City. He was 4-for-11 in mid-May while Altuve was out on bereavement leave.

“(Elmore) is a guy that has some experience in the outfield,” Porter said. “It just gives us more flexibility.”

Versatility part of Wallace’s bag

With Brett Wallace back up, the Astros have three first basemen on the 25-man roster. Wallace — the opening-day starter at first — joins Carlos Pena, who on Tuesday made his team-high 41st start of the year at first, and Chris Carter, who has manned the position 25 times this season.

“Carlos Pena and Carter will probably get the bulk of the time at first base with Brett Wallace also playing some first base and DH and Carter still having the capabilities of still playing the outfield as well,” manager Bo Porter said.

Wallace also has played third base in the past.

“It’s one of those things where Brett, he gives us flexibility,” Porter said. “He can play first. He can DH. He can also play third base and spell (Matt) Dominguez if we want to give Dominguez a blow.

“Like I explained to him, it will be an ebb-and-flow situation. I want to try everything I can to keep all of you sharp. At that same time, it’s a good problem to have. I would rather have too many players that can play than not have enough players.”